Tech News March 2011

How to Recycle Your Technology
Tech Review Source :: Friday, April 22, 2011
“Celebrate Earth Day by donating your old technology or getting rid of it in a way that’s safe for the environment. We love our computers and electronics. That is, until they stop working. Then these computers and their peripherals, from printers to monitors, not to mention your handhelds, batteries, and accessories, often become digital garbage.”

Building Computers for the Weekend Geek, Part 2
Techware Labs :: Monday, April 04, 2011
A power supply is like the transmission in your car, in that you never notice it when it’s working, but if it has a problem you come to a sudden halt. Choosing the right power supply can mean the difference between a stable system and a maddeningly inconsistent one riddled with heisenbugs. Figuring out exactly what you need may be difficult, but there are a few things you can look for to help narrow it down.

First, your processor’s spec sheet will include a stat called Max TDP, measured in watts. TDP stands for Thermal Design Profile, and directly it tells you how many watts of heat your CPU cooler will need to dissipate to keep things running cool at maximum load. Indirectly, it also gives you a worst-case estimate of how much power your CPU will draw. Most desktop CPUs range from 65W on the low end to 125W for the thirstiest CPUs. Overclocking can increase a CPU’s power consumption by ~25%, so bear that in mind if you’re planning to push your system past stock speed.

11543 240×180 gtx560 007 Building Computers for the Weekend Geek, part 2 Your video card is going to be the other main variable in the power-draw equation. Thankfully, most video cards will tell you right on the packaging what the minimum recommended power supply is. Note that this assumes a minimal system with one video card, one hard drive, one optical drive, and no other expansion cards. As a quick rule of thumb, most mid-level cards draw between 100W and 150W, while the high-end cards can draw as much as 300W. If you’re going for a SLI or Crossfire setup, you’ll obviously need to double that number.